A Catalogue, Bibliographical and Critical, of Early English Literature; Forming a Portion of the Library at Bridgewater House, the Property of the Rt. Hon. Lord Francis Egerton, M.P.

4to, iv,366p., a very good ex-library copy, orig. cloth, head of spine torn. ìThe library. was originally formed by Sir Thomas Egerton, Baron Ellesmere. His Lordship is well known to have been an enlightened and munificent patron of literature. Some of the books came into his possession from the Countess of Derby, whom he married in 1600, whose first husband, Sir John Wolley, appears also to have been liberal encourager of learning. Baron Ellesmere was created Viscount Brackley shortly before his death in 1616, and his son was raised to the dignity of Earl of Bridgewater in the following year. Many of the rarer productions enumerated in the following pages were collected and carefully preserved by the latter, and his affection for his books is testified by his marks and notes in most of the volumes which he added to the collection. The library was augmented at later dates by the successive Earls and Dukes of Bridgewater, until it devolved into the hands of the present possessor, by whose direction and whose expense this catalogue has been prepared and printed. The undertaking has been limited to early English literature, because it is a department which, though less understood than some others, has of late years attracted much attention, both in this and foreign countriesî. - Preface. Martin, Privately Printed Books. pp.470-71.